datadiving | lobcorp/ruina AU catchall

I'm up. [ He's more used to things now, but that doesn't mean it makes sleep much easier. Dwelling too long on what he's seen is never pleasant, so he finds other ways to occupy his time.

He opens the door, peering out at his friend. ] What is it? You look unusually serious, so that doesn't bode so well. [ It's half teasing and half sincere. Avery doesn't usually look serious, so this is likely important. ]

Well...

[He sighs softly and flashes Ekkehardt a helpless little smile.]

I wouldn't say that. Basically, there's good and bad news.

The good news is that my girlfriend wants us to get serious--and I feel the same way. The bad news is... that means we're going to be moving in together sometime soon.

So I'll have to make preparations to move out myself? I see.

[ He cracks a smile of his own, moving forward to wrap an arm around his shoulders and squeeze him in a light hug. ] Congratulations! I'm happy for you, you know.

[ You had to take happiness where you could get it, especially here. He's moved before, but this sort of thing was once in a lifetime. ]

Ha!

[Avery grins from ear to ear, lifting up a hand to rub the back of his head, cheeks faintly flushed]

Thanks. I still can't believe it myself. I'll have to go and find a ring someday.

[He pauses a moment, smile fading a little as he cocks his head.]

You going to be all right?

Oh, Avery, you're planning ahead? I never thought I'd see it happen! [ He flashes a grin, his tone teasing. ] She must be truly special.

Ah, there's a lot you don't know about me. [ His smile fades into something more serious. ] I'll be fine. Finding somewhere to live won't be a problem.

I hope you won't be a stranger, though. Even if the Backstreets are too rough for you, maybe you'll have time to spare now and again for us to meet like we did before?

Of course! You've got my cell number, right? We can pick out times and I'll make sure to save up for a Warp Train here.

[He lightly nudges Ekke's side with his elbow]

In the meantime, we still have a good few weeks. Let's make the most of it!

And what do you suggest we do? With you studying and me at work, we're not exactly ones for partying.

[ And he'll have to come up with a suitable gift. Can't be a weapon or a suit, but perhaps something smaller would have little chance of corruption...

He could get him something normal, of course, but for some reason, despite their shared happiness, there's some uneasiness lurking in him. ] Unless you have any ideas?

That's true, isn't it?

[He hums softly in thought]

We could always go out to eat. Or I could grab a bottle of wine for us to share for the evening.

[ He considers the options. ] I suppose after a few weeks, we'll usually be going out to eat, when we meet up. [ He replaces his reflexive instinct to say 'if', like he does around his coworkers. ] Staying in with a bottle of wine sounds like a more attractive option. It's not as if we're not both out all day.

Wine it is, then!

[He rubs his hands together and grins from ear to ear]

State your preference now or I'm going with red.

I'll leave it to your good taste! I don't drink a lot of wine.

Is there anything you'd like to eat? I'd like to do my part to contribute. [ He hasn't had much reason to cook more than small things, not when it's often easier just to eat out and he doesn't always have the energy, but he wants to do something special for the last night they'll be roommates. ]

[He thinks for a moment, then nods to himself.]

Something with either bacon or steak. Your choice.

[He's going to be drooling all day leading up to their little feast just thinking about it]

Steak it is. I'll do my best!

[ The days slip away quickly. He feels a little sad, when he has the space for it, but his work is so all-consuming that he doesn't have a lot of time for melancholy.

There is one perk of being an Agent, and an accomplished one at that. He has to sign a few forms, but in the end, he takes home a sturdy little box with his planned gift inside and keeps it in a cupboard.

The house starts to look emptier as he helps Avery pack up his things. His own belongings are sparse, to save anyone the trouble of sorting through them, and it doesn't help that empty feeling.

On the last night they'll be rooming together, Avery will come back to the smell of cooking steak and some kind of serious-looking containment box with a ribbon tied around it sitting on the table. For once, Ekkehardt is back before him. ]

[It's bittersweet in a way. He's completely head over heels for Vanessa, and finally getting the chance to stay with her is like a dream. But seeing the house slowly grow emptier and emptier makes his chest hurt almost as much as the thought that he might be sending Ekke all the way back into the Backstreets.

But you can't set yourself on fire to keep others warm, right? And Ekkehardt had said that he'd be fine.

He has a good job with one of the Wings, Avery reminds himself. He'll make it out all right.]

Oh wow. I could smell that just outside the door. I'm already drooling here!

[He puts on a smile as he enters the house, taking the jacket he'd slung over his shoulder and hanging it up on the nearby coat rack.

He's about to head into the kitchen to check on Ekke's progress when he notices the containment box and creeps closer, leaning back and forth to examine it but not quite able to bring himself to touch it just yet.]

What's this? A souvenir from work?

A good-luck gift, [ he calls from the kitchen, keeping a careful eye on the steak. ] I had to do plenty of paperwork for it, so I hope you'll like it, or my efforts will have been for nothing. Take a look if you like.

[ If Avery decides to open the box, he'll find what looks like a pair of large, ornamental feathers, radiating gentle heat. They curve in such a way to suggest that they're meant to be worn on the head, like a wreath or crown. ]

[The gift is... certainly different, that's for sure, and he wonders what an energy company would be doing with these sorts of odd fashion statement.]

Is it a hat or something?

[--is a question he probably should have asked before he decided to put it on his head, but, surprisingly enough, the feather headdress is somehow... comforting in a way, makes him feel more at ease, warm, like he could soar through a winter night without a care in the world.]

Woah. Is this what L Corp uses to help you employees de-stress?

You could say that. [ He carefully presses the steak. Almost done... ] They're...gifts from what we work with, to produce energy. [ Which is not......strictly speaking.......any kind of lie? ] There's, ah...a lot of different equipment. I made sure to choose something that would be useful to you.

Edited 2021-06-01 05:52 (UTC)

[Avery lets out a low, impressed whistle, eyes darting briefly to the grilling steak and back to Ekkehardt again]

Damn... No wonder you had to go through so much red tape.

[He grins]

They know you planned on giving it to me? You can tell me. I can keep a secret!

They know I planned on taking it out of the facility. I've got a few other things like that. [ His smile curls, wry and sharp. ] All that equipment together is the most valuable asset I have.

I suppose if you can keep secrets, I can show you my work gear. [ He doesn't let this distract him from finishing up the steak and sliding it onto warmed plates. ] But this one is all yours, as my parting gift to you.

Pfft, don't act like we're not going to see eachother again. I already told you I plan to visit, didn't I?

[Avery grins and practically leaps out of his chair, reaching up to straighten the feather crown when it tilts on his head]

But I am absolutely going to take you up on that offer to see your work gear! Especially if it's anything like this.

[ He just 'hmms' at that. You never know! And at L Corp, your future is even less assured. ]

Well, it's a mark of our time together as roommates coming to an end! Seeing you once in a while isn't the same as seeing you every day.

[ He raises an eyebrow as he sets out the plates. He huffs a little. ]

At least eat first. Don't waste all my hard work!

[Avery raids one of the drawers for a couple of forks and knives, giving a dismissive little wave as he takes them back to the table]

Yeah, yeah, I hear you. Like I'm really going to let an opportunity like this go to waste. It feels like forever since I got to sit down and have a good steak.

[He sets the silverware where it needs to be and all but flops down into his seat.]

Thanks by the way.

I should be thanking you. [ He smiles at him warmly, beginning to eat. He speaks politely between bites. ] You're the one who even gave me an option to room with you. It's the least I can do.

[ It certainly cuts down the commute time. ]

Hey, if it was up to me, I'd drag you along with.

[he takes a moment to chew, gesturing vaguely with the knife.]

Not that Vanessa would mind too much, but I can't imagine the transfer paperwork you'd have to go through would be much fun.

I don't mind paperwork. It's peaceful, actually. [ He shrugs. ] You'd be surprised how little I do - I'm an agent, not a clerk. It's not my job.

[ Avery can keep a secret, right? You are gonna get some TOP L CORP SECRETS. Or at least things that aren't known to the general public. ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject